Renter nearly scammed into paying deposit for rental property in Rosebery, Sydney
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Tenant is asked to pay a deposit before inspecting a three-bedroom house, only to discover that it was never on the market as scammers take advantage of Sydney’s rental crisis.
- Cihan Kenar confronted rental scammer
- Scammer advertised house that was not on the market
- They asked Mr. Kenar for a deposit.
A prospective renter revealed how a scammer tried to force him to pay a deposit on a rental property that was not on the market.
Cihan Kenar, from Rosebery, in south Sydney, has warned fellow renters after he nearly fell for a scam while asking about a suspiciously cheap house to rent in his area.
The three-bedroom detached property caught the eye of Mr. Kenar when it was advertised for $400 per week, significantly lower than the current market.
But the price and the alleged landlord’s response to Mr Kenar’s request to come view the property immediately set off alarm bells.
Cihan Kenar, from Rosebery, in south Sydney, has warned fellow renters after he nearly fell for a scam while asking about a suspiciously cheap house to rent in his area. A scammer had asked her to pay a deposit for an unlisted home
The stranger responded to Mr. Kenar saying that they had been inundated with messages from other potential tenants who wanted to inspect the house.
“If you can leave your information and make a refundable deposit to secure it now, once we meet tomorrow and the house doesn’t suit your money, it will be refunded immediately,” the ‘owner’ said.
Mr. Kenar then realized the scam and replied, ‘Are you serious?’
“You taunt me with cheap rent and ask for a deposit?” she continued her, only to be blocked shortly after.
Kenar posted the interaction on a Facebook group, where others revealed that they also had similar interactions with the scammer.
One said they even went to the house and spoke to the owner, who revealed that it had never been advertised for rent and had no plans to list it.
“(The scammer) was basically asking me to act fast so I wouldn’t lose so much,” Kenar said. seven news.
If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
The ACCC claims more renters are falling for scams as rental prices have risen at historic rates (a Sydney rental property pictured)
According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), more potential renters are falling for the scams.
The number of scams is increasing along with the recent historic increases in rental prices.
Australians lost around $544,846 to rental scams last year, an increase from 2021.